Who I Am

Hi my name is Glen Davis. I am an Advanced Aerospace Technician at the Kennedy Space Center.

What I Do
I work for United Space Alliance. USA is the private contractor for NASA. USA keeps the shuttle fleet readied for launch. I work in the Orbiter Processing Facility number two. KSC is USA's Florida Operations. The Advanced Aerospace Technician (AAT) Classification is the highest level of technician in USA Space Shuttle processing operations. AAT's are able to work their system more autonomously and assist other technicians by being able to perform functions of the technician and engineer. AAT's perform routine functions of engineering tasks within practical knowledge, experience, and within the scope of demonstrated area/ system expertise.

The engineering area that I represent is Flight Crew Systems. Flight Crew Systems Provides Engineering Expertise and Direction in the Integration of Flight Crew Equipment and Mid-deck Payloads, along With the Maintenance of Ground Support Equipment, in Support of Space Shuttle Operations. In other words FCS installs/removes and maintains all the stuff that the astronauts use and take into space. The seats they sit on, the exercise bike they ride, the lockers that store the food and cloths they wear, everything that goes into the orbiter for the astronauts is what they are responsible for.

As a Technician I am responsible for the performance, check-out, verification, modification and re-work of major shuttle mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, propulsion and pneumatic systems. I also participate in shuttle launch and recovery operations.

As a mechanic inside the orbiter I turn wrenches to remove and replace panels, lockers, cooling ducks, service the rotary equipment, the black boxes and other LRUs (line replacement units). On the outside of the orbiter, I do maintenance on such things as the nose landing gear and remove and replace the tires. I also assist with the maintenance on the thrusters that move the shuttle about while on orbit. One of the jobs I do is "windows". I help to clean and polish the windows between flights. As an electrician I mate and de-mate electrical connectors, take bond checks, use and read electrical meters.

At times I follow the shuttle to the Vehicle Assembly Building and then on to the Pad for processing prior to launch. When the orbiter lands at KSC or at Edwards Air Force Base in California, I drive the white room truck, mate it to the orbiter and open the hatch. (see Journals to learn more)

I am also a certified Space Craft Operator. There are only thirty-two technicians that are certified as Space Craft Operators. SCO's are responsible for the power on testing of the orbiters. As an Space Craft Operator, I am responsible for what goes on inside the crew compartment. I am the eyes, ears, and most importantly, the hands for the Orbiter Test Conductors and the engineers sitting at their consoles in the Launch Control Center about one-half mile away. I perform all of the power-on testing for the pre-flight, post-flight system checks and payload interface checks. I position all the switches and circuit breakers inside the crew compartment. SCO's are called CDR's (Commanders) or referred to as Ground Astronauts. As an SCO, I am the last USA employee to leave the orbiter before tanking and launch, and the first USA employee to enter the orbiter after a landing on the runway to relieve the astronauts from flight. I monitor the power on the orbiter until it arrives back in the Orbiter Processing Facility for horizontal processing to begin to begin the cycle all over again.

Someone Has to Clean the Potty
I cannot forget to mention someone has to clean the "potty" and of course vacuum the floors.

My Career Journey
I grew up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, in the county of Iron, and the town of Iron River. This makes me a full blooded Yooper.

I attended grade school at Bates Township Elementary and graduated from West Iron County High School with the great class of "71". Much later, I attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida, and through evening classes I graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics. I later returned to ERAU and graduated with a Master of Science in Technical Management in 2001.

I joined the United States Air Force in 1971, as a Metal Processing Specialist. I was stationed at Patrick AFB in Florida for my first half and the second half was in the Upper Peninsula at K I Sawyer AFB in Marquette.

I returned to Iron River after my tour of duty was up. I spent time in Iron county working as a welder, a plant manager, an EMT, a projectionist, a semi-driver delivering dairy products and a heavy equipment operator. One of the jobs I did while in Iron River was I taught welding for the West Iron County Community Schools at night.

I left God's country home to all Yoopers, in 1984, and came to Florida. That same year I was hired by Lockheed Space Operations Company. Lockheed through mergers and partnering became United Space Alliance. My first two years were spent working with Pad Operations loading liquid cryogenics into the large external tank. While working the pad I learned and worked all the systems that interface with the shuttle; swing arms, hypergolic, Hydrogen, the Mobile launch platform, and the environmental systems. Not to forget, washing down the Liquid Oxygen structure, scraping paint and repainting the systems structures. In 1986 I was transferred to the Orbiter Processing Facility were I have been working ever since.

Personal Information
I am married, my wife, Lisa, is also employed by United Space Alliance. She is an Advanced Aerospace Technician as well as an SCO, doing some of the same things I do in my job. We have a daughter, Jessica, who is eleven years old. We reside in Titusville, Florida, just across the beautiful Indian River Lagoon from the Space Center. I have a nice cabin on a serene lake (Robinson Lake) in the middle of the Ottawa National Forest in the Upper Peninsula. We spend most of our vacations on the lake.

I have had many outside interests including racing snowmobiles, motor bikes and stock cars. I enjoy working with horses and attending barrel racing events with my daughter. We have built our own home that includes a separate "mother-in-law" apartment where my mother lives so she can care for Jessica while we are at work. Of late, I have been renovating my cabin on the lake.

Likes About Career
My job is seen by most as being a neat place to work. This is because I work on the inside of the orbiters. I enjoy working with the astronaut flight crews. I enjoy heading out to California to support shuttle operations out there. I also delight in giving various V.I.P. groups such as actors, dignitaries, and sports figures the grand tour of the OPF and the inside of the orbiter crew compartment.

• April 29, 1998
• February 27, 1998
• April 23, 1997